For Democrats, former president Barack Obama has re-entered the public realm in an effort to mobilize progressive citizens to vote for Democrats in the upcoming midterms. However, whether this decision is a benefit or burden to the Democratic Party remains to be seen.

Some Republicans argue that the segment of the electorate that did not support President Obama and were motivated to vote for President Trump in 2016 as a result will be energized once again to show up and vote for the GOP in November.

In response to President Obama’s visit to Ohio in mid-September to campaign for Democratic Senator Bob Casey, Rep. Lou Barletta, Casey’s Republican challenger, said on behalf of her campaign that the former President’s visit was “perfect for us” and that it would “energize Republicans as a reminder.” Other Republican voters are unconcerned about Obama’s recent participation in Democratic campaigns because his campaigning efforts for Hillary Clinton in 2016 did not end favorably for Democrats.

Additionally, while general trends show that Republican voters tend to show up to the polls in midterm years at higher rates than Democrats, that could be different in 2018. Between 2006 and 2010, Republican candidates’ vote share increased in 186 districts across the country while Democrats’ vote share between during that time only increased in 35 districts. However, data from the 2018 primary elections reveals that the share of Democratic votes in primary elections, as compared to 2014, has increased in 123 districts; Republican vote share in the same time period has only increased in 19 districts.

The question remains whether Democrats can maintain these levels of voter participation in the forthcoming midterm general elections. It is unclear how President Obama’s recent involvement in Democratic campaigns will influence voter turnout in November, if at all. His presence may energize Republicans that voted for Trump as a pushback to Obama-era policies. Just as likely is that the former president’s involvement may alert Democrats to the importance of the upcoming elections and encourage them to vote. Either way, the outcomes of November’s elections will likely have drastic implications for President Trump’s policy agenda and for the coming redistricting efforts, the effects of which will be felt for years to come.